Hello and welcome to our latest blog. As I write this, the reserve is alive with birdsong! As well as the resident Blackbirds, Song thrushes, Cetti's warblers, Wrens and Robins, joining the chorus is Whitethroat, Willow warbler, Chiffchaff, Blackcap and Garden warbler too. We have one or two Nightingales and Grasshopper warblers too, but these are proving trickier to pin down- apart from one more reliable Nightingale in Botany Bay, which has been singing along the public footpath between the bungalow and the railway crossing.Early this morning (around 8:20am, 10 May) our administrator Suzanne heard a golden oriole in Brandon Fen- it was reported again around 1pm but not since. It's looking like it was just passing through, but it was lovely to have it pay us a visit and if we have any further records, we will update our visitors via social media. It is our first confirmed record for many years.Most of our migrant birds are here now, with 55 Hobbies counted by one of our volunteers this morning (10 April) from Joist Fen Viewpoint- almost anywhere on the reserve can accommodate Hobbies- as they hunt insects in the air above- but reedbed areas and the Washland are the most reliable places to look. This is likely to be close to our peak numbers so now is the best time to visit if you want to see the highest density of hobbies in the air. As long as the weather is warm and dry, you should see plenty.Other raptors that are easy to see at the moment include Kestrel, Common buzzard and several Marsh harriers spread across the reserve, again in reedbed locations. Some of our Marsh harriers are now nest-building, although aerial 'sky-dancing' courtship displays are still a common sight, as are male birds passing caught food items to females mid-air, or leaving it for her in a prominent spot on the ground.
As well as these larger raptors, House martins, Sand martins, Swallows and especially Swifts can be seen in large numbers hunting for tiny insects over the reedbeds. Swifts seem to be most numerous, with up to 200 at a time if you're lucky. Reed bunting, Sedge warbler and Reed warbler make up a backdrop of song in the reeds below the martins and Swifts, and a walk around the reserve at the moment is rarely quiet- warblers are singing everywhere you go. Photo credit: Sedge warbler by Cathy Ryden Bearded tits are a popular target for visitors at the moment, and although spring and summer aren't the best time to look, sightings have been coming in steadily so do keep watching the edges of pools for adult birds coming down to drink or forage for insects at the water's edge. Great crested grebes (still looking great in their breeding plumage), as well as broods of Mallard ducklings, Greylag goose goslings, Moorhen and Coot chicks have been enjoyed by visitors and are a vivid reminder of the whole purpose of Spring for the natural world- reproduction and the growth of the next generation. Photo credit: Adult coot with newly-hatched youngster. Photo by Tushar Bala.Insect life on the reserveAs well as a wealth of beautiful birds, the last week or so has seen an increase in the number and variety of colourful insects you could see on the reserve. On 2 May, our warden Katherine spotted a Hairy dragonfly, followed the next day by our first Four-spotted chaser of 2023. Then, on 7 May, our volunteer Mark found not just a Common blue damselfly but also a pair of Banded demoiselles- for the latter this is a very early record. Added to the odd Large red damselfly we have seen since April, we are now up to 5 species of dragonfly. Our butterfly list got a boost on 7 May by the appearance of the first Small coppers of 2023- these were seen in small numbers in the open sandy area of Brandon Fen, and on the sunny grassland near the Photography Station. Photo credit: A very fresh small copper butterfly, photo taken by Katherine Puttick.As you walk around the reserve, Peacock, Small tortoiseshell, Orange tip, Green-veined white and Small white are common sights on warm and sheltered days. Holly blue, Green hairstreak, Comma and Brimstone are here in smaller numbers. If you'd like to try to spot Green hairstreak, check the gorse bushes near the Visitor Centre and car park- they like to perch on the tips of sunny, sheltered branches. Holly blue tend to like anything of a vivid, shiny green to rest on- like Dogwood, Holly, Ivy or Silver birch. Unlike the Green hairstreaks, Holly blue can be very conspicuous in flight. The next species we are likely to see include Brown argus, Common blue and Large white.Other invertebrates that are easy to spot at the moment include the spectacular iridescent green Nettle weevil and Nursery-web spider- both resting on sunny patches of nettles- lining many of the paths across the reserve. And if you walk along the riverbank footpath, it is very hard not to meet clouds of mayflies at the moment- these harmless but very elegant insects will only be on the wing for a matter of weeks, but they are exceptionally beautiful and are a really important food source for insectivorous birds like Swallows and Hobbies.Plants looking their best at the momentAt the path edges it is very common to find beautiful patches of pink Common stork's-bill and Dove's-foot cranesbill at the moment, in the drier, sandy areas around Brandon Fen and the Visitor Centre. White dead-nettle, Cow parsley and Ground ivy thrive in damper patches too, and altogether these plants make for a spectacular display of Spring flowers to add interest to your walk. At the Dragonfly Platform, Water mint is just beginning to grow tall enough to break the water's surface, whilst Bogbean is looking beautiful in the raised pond bed opposite the Visitor Centre.Whatever your interest may be- birds, insects, plants, beautiful scenery or a bit of everything- we believe the reserve has something for everyone to enjoy. As usual, if you have any questions about the reserve or the wildlife here, please get in touch with us on 01842 863400 or using lakenheath@rspb.org.uk.With best wishes, Heidi Jones (Visitor Experience Officer, RSPB Lakenheath Fen).